Don's Example |
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| I was home on Tuesday morning and stepped on the scale for my weekly weigh-in. When seeing I had gained two pounds, I began to work myself up. I had palpitations and felt nervous fatigue. My thoughts began racing. I feared my weight would rise uncontrollably. I thought I should start restricting my food intake so I could lose those two pounds: no more fat in my diet, small portions, only fruit for lunch. I told myself I needed to exercise more and that I could take no more days off until I lost the weight. I also thought I needed to wear baggy clothes until I lost the weight so no one would notice I was getting fat. I spotted that I had fearful temper, and I told myself this is distressing but not dangerous. It's average to fluctuate a few pounds. I took the secure thought that this is phasic and not basic and that I needed to continue eating three moderate meals a day. I also realized that I had imagination on fire. Before I had my Recovery training, I would have immediately started to restrict my food intake, which would have led to a binge. I would have continued to focus on my body and weight and wouldn’t have effectively gone on with my day. I also would have exercised to the point of exhaustion, and I would have been anxious and worried all day. Further Spotting! Ann— I spot that Don was having fearful temper when he saw his two-pound weight gain. He thought he was wrong for that bit of gain, but then he spotted that it’s average for people to fluctuate a few pounds. Dee— I liked how Don took the secure thought that his weight gain was phasic and not basic. This shows that he knows it's temporary; it's only phasic. I spot that the fear of the permanent handicap might be one of Don's fears. Lisa— I spot the passion for self-distrust. Don was afraid his weight would go up uncontrollably, but now he can trust his basic functions to carry him forward in his battle against eating disorders. What does that mean? spotted— Don saw (recognized) that his thinking sabotaged his mental health. Spotting something is like recognizing it. fearful temper— If Don says he’s having fearful temper, he must be blaming himself for something. In this example, it was his weight gain. Fearful temper often goes under the guise of self-disgust, self-pity, self-hatred, etc.
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